Electrical cane



(No Model.)

W. -N. SHERMAN.

ELECTRICAL CANE.

N0. 578,471. Patented Mar. 9,1897.

' paratus.

to get out of working order.

the coils can be varied according to the current eifect or the tensiondesired. provement may be applied to canes with or UNITE STATES PATENTFFICE.

WALTER N. SHERMAN, OF MEROED, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL CAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,471, dated March 9,1897. Application filed April 2, 1896. Serial No. 585,875. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER N. SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Merced, in the county of Merced and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Canes; andI do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inwalking-canes.

It has for its objects, among others, to provide a walking cane or stickcombining therewith a novel, practical, and portable faradic battery. Itis intended primarily for the use of physicians. Of course it will beunderstood that it can be used and applied by any one, being made onwell-known electrical and scientific principles. The contents of thecane or walking-stick comprise small galvanic cells, known as dry cells,in which is generated the electric current for actuating or setting upthe action in the primary and secondary faradic coils or induction ap-The latter is made in accordance with well-known physical laws governingthe construction of all similar apparatus, as are also the electricalconnections from the battery or the cells. The induction apparatus issupported within the cane by a skeleton cylinder adapted to slidetherein or otherwise arranged so as to be readily removed when desired.The cells are also so arranged that any desired number, from one to six,may be used, and they also can be readily removed and replaced whenoccasion requires. It is always ready for instant use and is not liableThe length of The imwithont crooked handles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the let ters of reference marked thereon, form a part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a central longitudinalsection Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates a cane of any desired material and form, being shown asprovided at its end with a ferrule a,of metal,held thereon in anysuitable manner,as by screw-threading. The cane in this instance isshown as provided with a handle at right angles to the length thereof,but it is evident that this is not necessary, as the improvement may beapplied to canes in which this handle portion is not present. The metalelectrodes B and B are nested and fit on a skeleton frame B terminatingat the shoulders 1) within the handle portion of the cane and locked inposition by any suitable means, as, for instance, a slot and set-screwb. These metal electrodes and cylinder are a part of the handle of thecane when in position, as shown, and when detached form the electrodesfor the battery. On the inside thereof are the battery-cords b and twosmall sponges b for use with the same and for applying current to thehuman body in the ordinarymanner. b is an opening in the end for theattachment of the battery-cords.

The body portion of the cane and a part of the handle also containcomplete faradic induction-coils constructed on well-known principles ofelectromagnets and induction-coils.

O is the central core of soft iron.

0 is the primary coil of coarse wire, and C the secondary coil of finewire.

0 is a metallic tube arranged between the primary and secondary coilsand adapted to slide within the space therebetween, and

when drawn out, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it increases the current orthe inductive action of the coils.

D is the interrupter, and D the arm which supports the adjusting orregulating screw D adapted to cooperate with said interrupter in theusual way.

E, E, and E are the poles or connections for the battery-cords, E and Ebeing connected with the primary current and E and E with the secondarycurrent.

Within the body of the cane are arranged two small dry cells F and F,ordinary capsule-cells, one or both of which are connected with andactuate the coils.

G is a space near the lower end of the cane for the reception ofadditional cells, extra electrodes, or other paraphernalia which it maybe desired to carry.

In Fig. 2 the handle-electrodes are shown as removed from the handle andapplied ready for action in the hands of the patient.

H is a switch, of well-known construction and operation, arranged forclosing or opening the circuit of the battery, starting and stopping theaction of the same when desired. The coils may be supported by skeletonarms I, of thin steel or other suitable material and fitting snugly inthe upper part of the cylinder or body portion of the cane.

The convenience and advantages of a combined cane and electric batteryconstructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore specified will bereadily appreciated. The handles can be removed in a moment andconnections made and the battery set up for use. The connections of thecells to the coils are made in the usual way, and the cells can berenewed at small cost when exhausted. The cylinders may be straight ortapered and of various sizes suited to the coils and cells, and thetube, the cylinder, or cane may be made of metal or any other desiredsubstance, such as wood, hard rubber, or paper. The size and length ofthe wire and winding of the coil may be varied according to the strengthof the current and the purpose for which it is to be used.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is- 1. A walkingstick having a chamber therein and ahollow handle,combined with an electric battery, the parts of which arearranged within said chamber and nested metallic electrodes attached tothe handle of the cane, and forming a part thereof, substantially asshown and described.

2. The combination with a walking-stick, of a cylinder forming a part ofthe handle thereof, carrying the electrodes and the cords and thesponges, and the cells and coils and connections arranged within thebody portion of the cane, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a walking-stick, of a cylinder forming part ofthe handle thereof, carrying the electrodes, and the cords and thesponges, and the cells and coils and connections arranged within thebody portion of the cane, and detachably and removably supportedtherein, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a cane having a chamber therein, of the primaryand secondary coils and their supports, and the cells within said cane,the interrupter and adjusting-screw, and the removable cylinder carry-WALTER N. SHERMAN.

"Witnesses:

N. M. A. CODY, O. W. LEFFLER.

